SCOTTISH SKI RESORT COULD BE RESCUED

Cairngorm Mountain, below, has had its share of difficulties in recent months. At the end of January it was announced that the ski area’s funicular railway, which closed in October, will stay shut this summer and possibly beyond, after concerns over its structure.

And in December, resort operator Cairngorm Mountain Ltd (CML) was placed into administration due to “unsustainable cash flow problems”.

Since then, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which has owned the site since 2008 but leased it to CML, has taken over the running of the resort’s snow-sports centre and the funicular railway under a new sub-company.

An independent review commissioned by HIE has outlined an investment plan of up to £27 million to transform it into a worldclass, year-round resort, with suggestions including two new chairlifts from the base area, increasing the number of people able to access the slopes by 40 per cent, and more investment in snow-making facilities.

Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Charousse, Les Sept Laux, Villard-de-Lans and L’Alpe du Grand Serre. Transfers are set at a flat rate, so there is no risk of traffic delays adding to the final fee. The cheapest is to Les Sept Laux, a lesserknown winter destination for most Britons, an hour’s drive from Grenoble. A one-way trip starts at

€45 (£40) for four, while a one-way transfer to the more popular Alpe d’Huez or Les Deux Alpes costs €90 for the same number.

However, pickup is only possible from Grenoble train station, not the airport. Those flying into Grenoble and wanting to order an UberSki will have to take the direct shuttle from the airport to the city centre rail station, which takes 45 minutes. Shuttle tickets can be bought at the airport, on the coach or in advance. One-way tickets cost €15 per adult, with a €5 bag supplement. holiday operators Club Med and Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) have now joined forces to open a ski school there. The China

Ski Academy will be based at Star Mountain ski resort, about an hour’s drive from Beijing city centre.

It will offer expert instruction to the rising number of keen Chinese skiers and snowboarders.